The effects of iClicker bar graph feedback on test performance

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Abstract

This study examined the influence of receiving clicker bar graph feedback on immediate (Experiment 1) and delayed (Experiment 2) test performance. Participants received clicker questions with and without bar graph feedback or did not receive clicker questions during lecture. Overall, relative to the control group, clicker use enhanced immediate test performance. Clicker conditions did not differ in immediate or delayed test performance; however, when the majority of participants answered clicker questions correctly, test performance was enhanced only for those in the feedback group. When the majority answered clicker questions incorrectly, individuals in the no feedback group had marginally better test performance than those in the feedback condition, suggesting that bar graph feedback provokes source misattribution errors and interferes with one's ability to make corrections. Importantly, clicker use appears to enhance test performance, as long as individuals do not receive bar graph feedback when the majority answer clicker questions incorrectly. Thus, instructors should reconsider displaying bar graph feedback during clicker-based lectures. Finally, future research must explore the lack of delayed testing effects observed in this study.